Medical Conditions

Hair Loss (Alopecia)

Everyone loses hair. It is normal to lose about 50-100 hairs every day. If you see bald patches or lots of thinning, you may be experiencing hair loss. The medical term for hair loss is Alopecia.

The most common cause of hair loss is hereditary hair loss. About 80 million men and women in the United States have this type of hair loss. Other names for this type of hair loss include Male-pattern baldness, Female-pattern baldness, or Androgenetic alopecia.

There are many possible reasons for hair loss, ranging from genetic to environmental. One of the most common hair loss causes is genetics, resulting in alopecia or male pattern baldness (which occurs in women as well as men). Although alopecia causes cannot be prevented, there are several possible approaches to addressing this cause of hair loss, including hair transplantation surgery, medications, and laser therapy.

Hair loss occurs when the hair follicle shrinks and becomes unable to grow new hair.

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About

Hair Loss (Alopecia)

Everyone loses hair. It is normal to lose about 50-100 hairs every day. If you see bald patches or lots of thinning, you may be experiencing hair loss. The medical term for hair loss is Alopecia.

Causes

There are many causes of hair loss. Women may notice hair loss after giving birth. People under a lot of stress can see noticeable hair loss. Some diseases and medical treatments can cause hair loss.

The most common cause of hair loss is hereditary hair loss. About 80 million men and women in the United States have this type of hair loss. Other names for this type of hair loss include Male-pattern baldness, Female-pattern baldness, or Androgenetic alopecia.

Alopecia areata is a prevalent autoimmune skin disease resulting in the loss of hair on the scalp and elsewhere on the body. Alopecia areata occurs in males and females of all ages, but onset often occurs in childhood. Over 6.6 million people in the United States and 147 million worldwide have or will develop alopecia areata at some point in their lives.

Cicatricial (scarring) alopecia is a rare disease which destroys a person’s hair follicles. Scar tissue forms where the follicles once were, so the hair cannot re-grow.

Central centrifugal cicatricial (scarring) alopecia primarily affects women of African descent. It begins in the center of the scalp and radiates out from the center of the scalp as it progresses. The affected scalp becomes smooth and shiny. The hair loss can be very slow or rapid.

Risk Factors

Millions of people experience hair loss. Some people see their hair re-grow without doing anything. Others need treatment for their hair to re-grow. Sometimes, hair will not re-grow. Your risk for hair loss will increase if it runs in your family. There are many factors which contribute to hair loss including:

Underlying medical conditions

Illness

Certain cancer treatments

Ringworm

Trichotillomania, which causes people to pull out their own hair

Hormonal changes, such as after giving birth or during menopause

Stress, such as after a traumatic event

Weight Loss

Vitamin A deficiency

Protein or Iron deficiency

Eating disorders

Inadequate hair care and certain hair styles

Symptoms

Hair loss may cause gradual thinning, bald patches, or complete baldness. It varies from person to person, and condition.

Diagnosis

Because so many things can cause hair loss, a dermatologist acts like a detective. A dermatologist may begin by asking questions. The dermatologist will want to know whether the hair loss happened suddenly or gradually. Knowing this helps to eliminate causes.

The dermatologist also will carefully look at your scalp and hair. During an exam, the dermatologist may pull on your hair. Sometimes a dermatologist needs to pull out a hair to get the necessary evidence. And sometimes a dermatologist needs to look at the hair on the rest of your body to see whether there is too little or too much hair in other areas. Sometimes a scalp biopsy may be required.

Determining the exact cause of hair loss may take time and multiple appointments, but do not get discouraged. Once a diagnosis is reached, there are many options for treatment.

FAQs

Do natural hair growth remedies ever work?

You may be wondering if you can use home remedies for hair growth or if there are any effective natural hair growth remedies. A healthy, nutritious diet is a great place to start; vitamin and iron deficiencies can be detrimental, so eating a variety of vitamin-rich foods is one of the best home remedies for hair loss. However, studies show that most home remedies have mixed results, so consider other options.

If your hair loss is genetic, home remedies for hair growth are unlikely to be an effective treatment for baldness (you are more likely to have success with approaches such as medication, laser therapy, or hair transplantation surgery). It is a good idea to ensure you have a healthy lifestyle (for example, by reducing stress, smoking, and alcohol consumption, which can all cause or exacerbate hair loss). Avoid websites offering miracle cures, since they are rarely effective.

When is non surgical hair replacement a viable option?

If you feel squeamish about surgery, you are probably wondering about non-surgical hair replacement options. Depending on the cause of your hair loss, you may find that improving your nutrition, reducing stress levels, and treating undiagnosed illnesses or vitamin deficiencies may allow your hair to grow back. However, if your hair loss is caused by alopecia, you are less likely to find success with these non-surgical hair replacement techniques.

There are two main medications used as a treatment for baldness: Minoxidil (commonly known as Rogaine) and Finasteride. Other hair replacement options include laser combs and laser therapy at your physician’s office, although these hair loss cures have varying levels of success from one individual to another. Finally, if none of this works and you are set on avoiding surgery, you may consider experimenting with flattering hairstyles or simply shaving off the rest of your hair for a stylish new look.

How much does hair transplant cost?

Individuals considering hair transplantation surgery often wonder about hair restoration prices. To determine the hair replacement cost, you must first decide on the type of procedure you are considering.

Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) will typically cost more than strip harvesting, but often results in a more natural appearance and involve less scarring and post-surgical pain. However, there are advantages and disadvantages to both procedures.

When considering hair replacement cost, it is important to keep in mind the value of the surgery. How much does the hair transplant cost when compared to an artificial hairpiece, or the long-term use of medical treatments like Rogaine, Finasteride, and/or laser therapy? Moreover, because the results are permanent, many people view the surgery as an investment in their appearance and overall happiness.

How to make hair thicker and restore a healthy head of hair?

Many people with thinning hair wonder how to make hair thicker. Thinning hair remedies range from actions you can easily take in the comfort of your own home to medical and surgical thinning hair treatment. The best option will typically depend on the cause of the hair loss, so it is important to consult your physician.

Here are some steps to consider for how to make your hair grow thicker. First, determine whether your stress level or dietary habits may be affecting your health. Second, ensure that you are not suffering from any illnesses, such as a thyroid disorder or iron deficiency. Next, you may consider using medical thinning hair remedies such as Rogaine or Finasteride. Finally, if these options prove insufficient and you are still left wondering how to make hair thicker, you may consider laser therapy or hair transplantation surgery.

How should I select a hair regrowth treatment?

Men and women experiencing hair loss will often wonder about hair regrowth options. Hair regrowth treatment will vary depending on the cause of your hair loss. Because the reasons for thinning hair vary widely, the solution may range from making lifestyle changes (such as reducing stress or eating a more healthy, nutritious diet) to treating existing medical problems (such as thyroid disorders or anemia) or seeing a physician to discuss medical treatments like Minoxidil (commonly known as Rogaine) or Finasteride.

Hair regrowth for men and women can be stimulated using hair regrowth treatments such as laser therapy or laser combs. If none of these treatments are effective, surgical options such as follicular unit extraction (FUE) are also available. Hair regrowth for women may also be affected by pregnancy, so if you are a pregnant woman experiencing thinning hair, know that this problem will resolve itself in time.

How can I stop losing hair?

Many people experiencing hair loss want to find out how to stop losing their hair, or whether hair loss solutions are available. However, it is important to remember that the most effective remedies for hair loss will depend on its root cause. In some cases, stopping hair loss may simply require a change in lifestyle, such as reducing stress levels, quitting smoking, or cutting down on alcohol. In other cases, the best hair loss solutions may be medical, with the use of drugs like Minoxidil (also known as Rogaine) and Finasteride. And still others find success using laser therapy or laser combs.

In all cases, if you are wondering how to stop losing hair, the best place to start is to see a physician to determine what is causing the hair loss and which option is likely to work best for your situation.

What are the causes of hair loss in men?

Men experiencing thinning hair will typically wonder about the reasons for their hair loss. So why do men lose hair? The causes of hair loss in men vary widely, but alopecia – genetically inherited, male pattern baldness – is what causes male baldness most often.

Nevertheless, there are many other reasons for hair loss, ranging from illness (including thyroid disease and anemia), medications (such as chemotherapy), and lifestyle, including stress, exposure to chemicals or UV rays, smoking, or the consumption of alcohol.

However, all of these factors will affect different individuals in various ways. For example, not everyone who experiences stress or has a family history of male pattern baldness will be affected in the same way. Thus, in most cases, the best option for determining the causes of hair loss in men is to see a physician.

What are the most common reasons for hair loss?

There are many possible reasons for hair loss, ranging from genetic to environmental. One of the most common hair loss causes is genetics, resulting in alopecia or male pattern baldness (which occurs in women as well as men). Although alopecia causes cannot be prevented, there are several possible approaches to addressing this cause of hair loss, including hair transplantation surgery, medications, and laser therapy.

In other cases, the reasons for hair loss may be related to an individual’s environment or lifestyle. Hair loss causes may include illness or disease (such as thyroid disease or anemia), certain medications (including chemotherapy), or lifestyle factors like smoking, stress, alcohol consumption or exposure to UV rays or chemicals. The best way to determine the cause of your hair loss is to see your physician.